On March 2, 2023, the Sub-Occupational Safety and Health Committee (SOSHCo), Faculty of Pharmacy, conducted a briefing on ‘Fire Safety and Demonstration of Fire Fighting’ at Dewan Kuliah 4, FF4 Building, UiTM Puncak Alam Campus. More than 50 staff members, including academic staff and supporting staff from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Rector Office, attended the event, which was officiated by the Deputy Dean (Student Affairs), Dr. Aida Azlina Ali.
The briefing was delivered by the Fire Chief Officer (PgB) Mr. Kamarul Anuar Isnawan and was assisted by four (4) other cadets from Bestari Jaya Fire and Rescue Station. The briefing started with an explanation on the specific tasks of the incident controller, incident officer, floor warden and fire marshals during an emergency or fire incident. Following that, the officer explained the first step to developing an emergency response plan, the risk assessment that must be administered in order to identify potential emergency scenarios, and the last step, which is evacuation preparation and practice, i.e., a fire drill. After the briefing, a simple evacuation practice was conducted to give a brief overview of how the evacuation process should be carried out in an emergency. This included demonstrating the proper evacuation routes, how to use the fire extinguishers, and how to properly evacuate the building in an orderly manner. The practice was done at the emergency assembly point of FF4 Building. Demonstration of fire fighting using a fire extinguisher was also conducted by the officers. The four basic steps which were described by an acronym PASS, were thoroughly guided by the officers. Several staff members were given the chance to operate the fire extinguisher themselves for a real-scenario demonstration. Ultimately, we were shown a fire march (kawad bomba) by all the officers to end the event. The fire march was a symbolic gesture to signify the importance of fire safety and the commitment of the officers to ensure the safety of the staff.
The management received positive feedback regarding the event and hopes that the event will be continued every year to serve as a reminder of fire safety. The event serves as an important platform for staff to learn about fire safety and the proper procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. It also serves as an opportunity for the officers to demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety of the staff.
